Battle of Vaalesjoki

The Battle of Vaalesjoki occurred from 20 June to 7 July 1944 when the 21,000-strong Soviet 8th Guards Army under Ivan Boldin launched an offensive into northern Finland, facing 18,000 German troops of the Mountain Corps Norway under Ferdinand Jodl. The Germans put up stiff resistance against the Red Army, but they were eventually forced to retreat to Petsamo after the Soviets overwhelmed them. The battle was one of the first battles of the Soviet offensives into Finland in 1944, and the following battles would force the Germans to retreat into Norway.